Master sheet blank means



NOV. 14, 1944.. L A. WATKlNs MASTER SHEET BLANK MEANS Filed Jan. 21, 1941 luurrlazo srArss PATENT orrics MASTER SHEET BLANK MEANS Lawrence A. Watkins, Hamilton, Ontarlo, Canada,

assigner to Ditto, Incorporated,

Chiclo, lll.,

a corporation of West Virginia Application January 21, 1941, Serial No. 375,271 11 claims. (ci. 101-131) This invention relates to master sheet blank means for use for the preparation of master sheets ln connection with liquid process duplicating machines, and it has for its object the provision of a new and improved form and arrangement of parts whereby a single carbon sheet may be employed to advantage in the preparation of a plurality of master sheets. For the best operation of this type of machine, it is important that the master sheet have a full complement of carbon at all points with no breaks whatever .in the lines of the letters or other designs making up the subject matter for duplication. For insuring this resultheretofore, many operators have made a practice of usinga fresh carbon sheet for the preparation of each master sheet in turn, even though such a course entails a considerable expense in the preparation of master sheets.-

Some operators heretofore have employed a single carbon sheet for the preparation of two or more master sheets, takingthe precaution to position the carbon sheet differently in the typewriting machine for the successive typing operations, so that the line of typewriting for the second typing operation shall come at a point longitudinally of the carbon sheet differing from the point at which the former line of typewriting was effected and thus using for the second typing operation the portions of the carbon sheet located between the lines of writing of the first typing operation. For assisting the operator in placing the carbon sheet in different positions in the typewriting machine on successive uses of a carbon sheet, marks have been placed on the carbon sheet in differential positions thereon by reference to which marks the operator is enabled by careful and skillful work to slide the carbon and the master sheet together as necessary for obtaining the desired results. The success of this plan, however, depends wholly upon the interest and the skill of the operator and the plan at Abest is not uniformly. successful.

By the present invention, an improved arrangement is provided for enabling an operator easily and accurately and with assurance to position the carbon sheet differentially for two successive typing operations. In the improved arrangement, two master sheet blanks are employed in connection with `a single carbon sheet, with the two blanks differentially arranged with respect to the carbon sheet, easily workable means being provided for-assuring that such differential arrangement of the blanks with respect to the carbon sheet shall be brought about. After the initial arrangement of the papers has been effected in accordance with the invention before the papers are inserted into the typewriting machine, which step would ordinarily be carried out in the course of the preparation of the -papers for sale, the typist 4brings about the desired differential positioning of the carbon sheet with respect to the successive lines of typing by the mere act of bringing each of the blanks in turn to the proper normal writing position in the typewriting machine. 'I'he improved results are brought about preferably by the use of tab means on one or both of the associated master sheet blanks for positioning their top edges differentially with respect to the top edge of the carbon sheet. In case a single tab is used for the two blanks, such tab is preferably of a width corresponding to half of the normal spacing of the lines of typing on the sheet. In case two tabs are used, the tabs are preferably made of such different widths that the difference corresponds preferably to half of such normal spacing or to one and one-half times such normal spacing, or to two and one-half times such normal spacing. In the preferred arrangement, the two blanks and the tab or tabs are formed integrally with each other, with the carbon sheet preferably attached by cement or the like with one of the tab portions.

It is another object of the invention to improve means of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which'the several objects have been attained are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in

which- Fig. 1 is a face view of one form of the improved blank means from which two master sheets are made;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with one of the master sheet blanks torn away;

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the assembly as shown in Fig. 1 as seen `from the right therein;

Fig. 4 is a view of the parts shown in Fig. 2 but with the unused blank turned to a changed positizon as compared with the showing of said Fig. Y

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a changed for-m of assembly; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but with one blank torn off and the other blank turned to changed position.

Referring now to Figs. l to 4 of the drawing, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, l0 and Il indicate master sheet blanks having tab portions l2 and I3, respectively, detachably connected to their upper edges. In the arrangement shown in Fig. l, the two tabs are formed integrally with the master sheets and are connected integrally with each other at their upper edge portions. In the form of assembly as illustrated in Fig, 1, the blanks I and II are provided with forms comprising cross-lines I4 in equally spaced relation to each other for receiving the subject matter of the blanks. The blanks II] and II are similar to each other in all respects, with the same top margin spaces on the two blanks.

Between the blanks I0 and I I, a carbon sheet I5 is provided, with its carbon face facing the blank I0 in the arrangement as shown in Fig. 1 and serving thus effectively to carbonize one face of the blank II. The carbon sheet I is secured at its upper edge portion to the tab I2, by means of cement or in any other suitable manner so as to be held firmly in position with respect to said tab I2. A unit assembly is thus formed, comprising the blanks IIJ and I I hingedly connected together at corresponding transverse edgesthrough the medium of the tab portions I 2 and I3,

with the carbon sheet I5 interposed between the blanks.

With the parts in the position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the assembly is placed in a typewriting machine with the blank I I next to the platen of the machine. The assembly is slid in the ma chine if necessary for bringing the lines I4 accurately to the typing position, after which the form is lled out in accordance with the subject matter of the proposed master sheet. The typing on the front face of the blank I0 is of course in the usual form, while the carbon copy on the back face of the blank III is in reverse, as is necessary ordinarily for use with a liquid process duplicating machine. When the typing is completed, the blank I0 is torn along a weakened line at I6 so as to separate the blank from the tab I2, whereupon the blank is ready for use in the usual manner. After the blank I0 has been torn away, the blank I I is turned from the position as shown in Fig. 2 to the position as shown in Fig. 4, with the back face of the blank II in its turned position next to the carbon face of the carbon sheet I5. The assembly is then in condition for use for the preparation of a second master sheet in the same manner as that above described in connection with the blank I 0. That is to say, the assembly in its condition as shown in Fig. 4 is inserted into the machine with the uncoated face of the carbon sheet I5 next to the platen and is slid as necessary with respect to the platen for bringing one of the lines I4 to the typing position. After the blank II has been completely typed, it is torn from the tab I3 at the weakened line I '1, whereupon it is ready for use in the usual manner.

The arrangement of the parts as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is such that the tab I2 is slightly wider than the tab I3, the difference in their widths corresponding substantially to half of the normal spacing between lines of typing on the blanks as indicated by the cross-lines I4 thereon. By reason of this construction, the blank II in the Fig. 4 arrangement is located at a higher point of the face of the carbon I5 than the point at which the blank III is located in the arrangement of Fig, 1, such diierence in the positioning of the blanks with respect to the carbon corresponding to half of the normal spacing between successive lines I4. Since the blanks I0 and II are positioned typing operation, it follows that the carbon sheet is necessarily positioned diii'erentially for the two typing operations. The arrangement is such that the second typing operation employs the portions of the carbon sheet lying between the portions employed for the rst typing operation. 'I'his insures that there shall be no break whatever in the lines of the letters produced by the second typing operation, so that results for the production of the second master sheet are just as good as those brought about by the initial typing operation.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a single narrow tab I8 is employed in lieu of the two tabs I2 and I3 of the arrangement first described. Two similar blanks IS and 20 are employed, formed integrally with the narrow tab I8, with a carbon sheet 2I secured to the tab I8 with its carbon face next to the blank I9. The tab I8 is of a width corresponding to half of the normal spacing between the lines of writing 22 on the blanks I9 and 20. By reason of this construction, the blank 20 in Fig. 6 is located at ahigher point with respect to the carbon 2I than the point at which the blank I9 is located in Fig. 5. It will be understood that a similar resultv would be eiected if the tab I8 were made of a width corresponding to one and one-half time the normal spacing distance or two and one half times such normal spacing distancethat is to say, if the tab I8 were of a width in odd number multiple relationship to half of the space between the lines 22.

By the use of my improved arrangement, an operator is enabled to place the two blanks successively in the machine in such position as to insure that the carbon shall be located at the desired differential positions for the succeeding typing operations, this result being eiected by the mere act of bringing each of the blanks in turn to the proper writing position in the machine.

While the arrangement and construction as above described are preferred, the invention is not to be limited to such arrangement except so far as the claims may be so limited, it being understood that changes might well be made in the construction without departing from the spirit ot lvthe invention.

I claim:

l. Master sheet blank means comprising in combination a carbon sheet, two master sheet blanks, and means for holding said master sheet blanks in operative position with respect to said carbon sheet so as to be adapted to receive copy alternatively therefrom, with one of the transversely extending edges of one blank arranged higher on the carbon sheet than the corresponding transversely extending edge of the other blank.

2. Master sheet blank means comprising in combination a carbon sheet, two master sheet blanks, and tab means detachably connected with said blanks' for holding the blanks successively in position with respect to said carbon sheet, with their transverse edges adjacent to said tab means differentially arranged with' respect to the adjacent transverse edge of the carbon sheet.

3. Master sheet blank means comprising in combination a carbon sheet, two master sheet blanks, and tab means detachably connected with correspondingly in the typewriter machine for the the upper edgesof said blanks so as to form extensions thereof for holding the blanks successively in position with respect to said carbon sheet, with the upper edge of one blank arranged higher on the carbon sheet than the upper edge of the other blank by aldistance having an odd number multiple relationship to the distance corresponding to half' f the normal spacing oi.' successive lines of typing on the sheets.

4.\Master sheet blank means comprising in combination a carbon sheet, two master sheet blanks, and two tabs of different widths detachably connected with' said blanks respectively and connected with' eachother, one of said tabs being wider than the other by .an amount having an odd number multiple relationship to the distance corresponding to half of the normal spacing of successive lines of typing on the sheets.

5. Master sheet blank means comprising in combination a carbon sheet, two master sheet blanks, and tab means connected with said carbon sheet and detachably connected with said blanks forming extensions of the blanks for holding the blanks successively in position with respect to saidcarbon sheet, with the upper edge of one blank arranged higher on the carbon sheet than the upper edge of the other blank by a distance having an odd number multiple relationship to th'e distance corresponding to h alt of the normal spacing of successive lines of typing on the sheets.

6. Master sheet blank means comprising in combination acarbon sheet,- two 4master sheet blanks, and two tabs of different widths detachably connected with said blanks respectively and connected with each other and with said carbon sheet, one`of said tabs being wider than the oth'er by an amount corresponding to half of the normal spacing of successive lines of typing on the sheets. 7. Master sheet blank means .comprising in combination a carbon sheet, two master sheet blanks cross-lined with uniform spacing between the lines and with the same top margin spaces on the two sheets, and tab means detachably connected with said blanks for holding the blanks successively in position with respect to said carbon sheet, with the upper edge of one blank arranged higher on the carbon sheet than the upper edge of the other blank by a distance having an odd number multiple relationship tothe distance between said cross-lines.

8. Master sheet blank means comprising in combination a carbon sheet,y two master sh'eet blanks cross-lined with uniform spacing between the lines and with the same top margin spaces on the two sheets, and two tabs of different widths detachably connected with said blanks respectively and connected with each other and with` said carbon sheet, one of said tabs being wider than the other by an amount having an odd number multiple relationship to the distance between said cross-lines. v

9. In a unit of the character described, a single sheet comprising two like sheet portions and a narrow tab portion between said sheet portions, the sheet having' a fold line between said sheet portions coinciding with one edge of the tab portion and being provided with a, weakened line spaced from the fold line along the other edge of the tab portion whereby the adjacent sheet portion is spaced from the fold line and oiset from the other sheet by the width of said tab portion and may be readily detached, leaving the tab and other sheet portion together.

10. In a unit of the character described, a sheet v comprising two sheet portions and a narrow tab portion between said sheet portions, the sheet having a fold line between said sheet portions and being provided with' two weakened lines on opposite sides of said fold line and spaced therefrom Idiilerent distances whereby to detachably secure the said sheet portions to said tab portion at'different distances from the fold line.

11. Master sheet blank means comprising in combination a carbon sheet, two master sheet blanks, and a narrow tab portion between and detachably connected with said blanks, the said tab portion serving to offset one blank with rei ,spect to the other and the carbon sheet being secured to the tab portion whereby th'e tab portion holds'the blanks imposition with respect to ,40 the carbon sheet, with their transverse edges adjacent to the tab portion differentially arranged with respect to the adjacent transverse edge of the carbon sheet.

LAWRENCEA. WATKINS. 

